Turkeyfoot senior wants to study environment

Riley Papson has always been interested in the environment, animals and how the world's ecosystems work. For years she wanted to become a marine biologist.

That changed two years ago after she went on a family vacation to Hawaii. "I met a dolphin trainer and we talked about the job," she said. "I think now I'm more interested in studying the environment and all the biomes," she said.

A biome is a large community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct region. The 17-year-old Turkeyfoot Valley Area High School senior would now like to major in ecological and environmental biology.

That would give her a chance to study environments, learn how to improve them and to protect endangered species.

"I see myself as a lab rat wearing the white coat and also out taking soil samples," she said. "I definitely don't want to be limited."

After graduation she plans to attend Shippensburg University because the school offers the exact major she was looking for in addition to having programs that support her other loves, like music.

She began playing the clarinet in 4th grade, when the family lived outside Pittsburgh. When she moved into the area she kept playing and eventually joined the marching band.

"I loved it. I just like listening to music all the time," she said. Shippensburg has several music groups she hopes to join once she is accepted.

Papson has also excelled in other school programs and academics.

She is a member of the National Honor Society, yearbook staff, student council, SADD, Future Farmers of America chapter and captain of the cheerleading squad.

She is particularly proud in helping start the FFA chapter. "You get to learn how to raise plants and animals. You learn how fisheries and other agriculture operations work," she said.

The chapter was chartered in May 2010 and has seen strong students and faculty support, she said.

This year Papson began writing for the High School Highlights for the Somerset Daily American and is volunteering at the Yough Valley Pharmacy as part of the Senior Challenge Program at Turkeyfoot.

Among her honors have been Confluence Lioness for October and the Challenge Program Academic Excellence Achievement Award as a junior.

In her free time she loves to listen to music and travel. In 2009 she got to take the long drive to Las Vegas. "I got to see an entirely different side of the country," she said.

She was also excited to see how different parts of the country have vastly different environments.

"I hope to travel to different places one day. The Mediterranean is one place I would love to go."

She is the daughter of Jill and Keith Regan of Addison. Her father is Jeffrey Papson. Her brother, Nicholas Papson, is 13.